Fibers Are considered class evidence Have probative value Are common trace evidence at a crime scene Can be characterized based on comparison of both physical and chemical properties

Fabric Fabric is made of fibers. Fibers are made of twisted filaments. Types of fibers and fabric: Natural—animal, vegetable, or inorganic Artificial—synthesized or created from altered natural sources

Types of Fibers Synthetic Rayon Nylon Acetate Acrylic Spandex Polyester Natural Silk Cotton Wool Mohair Cashmere

Classification Natural fibers are classified according to their origin: Vegetable or cellulose Animal or protein Mineral

Cellulose Fibers Cotton—vegetable fiber; strong, tough, flexible, moisture-absorbent, not shape-retentive Rayon—chemically altered cellulose; soft, lustrous, versatile Cellulose acetate—cellulose that is chemically altered to create an entirely new compound not found in nature

Fiber Comparison Describe the difference(s) between the cotton on the left and the rayon on the right.

Protein Fibers Wool—animal fiber coming most often from sheep, but may be goat (mohair), rabbit (angora), camel, alpaca, llama, or vicuña Silk—insect fiber that is spun by a silkworm to make its cocoon; the fiber reflects light and has insulating properties

Mineral Fibers Asbestos—a natural fiber that has been used in fire-resistant substances Rock wool—a manufactured mineral fiber Fiberglass—a manufactured inorganic fiber

Synthetic Fibers Made from derivatives of petroleum, coal, and natural gas. Nylon—most durable of man-made fibers; extremely lightweight Polyester—most widely used man-made fiber Acrylic—provides warmth from a lightweight, soft, and resilient fiber Spandex—extreme elastic properties

Man-made Fibers Fibers derived from either natural or synthetic polymers Regenerated Fibers Synthetic Fibers

Summary Questions: Read p. 128-135 in the textbook Why are fibers valuable at a crime scene? How do fibers have probative value? How are fabrics made? What are the different characteristics of a fiber, a filament & a fabric? Are inorganic fibers natural or synthetic? Name two.

Fabric Production Fabrics are composed of individual threads or yarns that are made of fibers and are knitted, woven, bonded, crocheted, felted, knotted, or laminated. Most are either woven or knitted. The degree of stretch, absorbency, water repellence, softness, and durability are all individual qualities of the different fabrics.

Weave Terminology Yarn—a continuous strand of fibers or filaments that may be twisted together Warp—lengthwise yarn Weft—crosswise yarn Blend—a fabric made up of two or more different types of fibers

Weave Patterns

Plain Weave The simplest and most common weave pattern The warp and weft yarns pass under each other alternately Design resembles a checkerboard

Twill Weave The warp yarn is passed over one to three weft yarns before going under one. Makes a diagonal weave pattern. Design resembles stair steps. Denim is one of the most common examples.

Satin Weave The yarn interlacing is not uniform Creates long floats Interlacing weave passes over four or more yarns Satin is the most obvious example

Knitted Fabric Knitted fabrics are made by interlocking loops into a specific arrangement. It may be one continuous thread or a combination. The yarn is formed into successive rows of loops and then drawn through another series of loops to make the fabric.

Polymers Synthetic fibers are made of polymers, which are long chains of repeating chemical units. The word polymer means many (poly) units (mer). The repeating units of a polymer are called monomers. By varying the chemical structure of the monomers or by varying the way they are joined together, polymers are created that have different properties. As a result of these differences, they can be distinguished from one another forensically.

Filament Cross Sections Synthetic fibers are forced out of a nozzle when they are hot, and then they are woven. The holes of the nozzle are not necessarily round; therefore, the fiber filament may have a unique shape in cross section. Round 4-lobed Octalobal Irregular Multi-lobed or Serrate Trilobal Dogbone or Dumbbell

Summary Questions: Read p. 136-143 in the text What is the monomer of a polymer? What is the monomer of wool? In silk? In cotton? List four synthetic fibers. What is the most common natural fiber used in textiles? The most common synthetic fiber? Why does wool have a distinctive smell when it is burned? How is silk produced Why is silk a simpler structure than wool? What is rayon? How are acetate fibers made? What products are formed from acetate fibers? Why was the discovery of Nylon 66 important? Which of the fabrics found in Activity 6.3 would have the most probative value in an investigation? Which would have the least? Explain. How are the properties of a linear polymer different from a cross-linked polymer? Identify the two types of acrylic fibers and their uses. What is the structure of spandex (Lycra)

What is the significance of fiber evidence? Can prove contact between two individuals Can prove contact between an individual and an object. Value is dependent on: Type of fiber Color or color variations in fiber Location of fiber Number of fibers that matches between victim and suspect.

Fiber as trace evidence Primary transfer Secondary transfer occurs when already transferred fibers on the clothing of a suspect transfers to clothing of a victim. occurs when fibers are transferred from a fabric directly onto a victim's clothing. Important for reconstruction of crime scene.

Using fibers to reconstruct crime scenes The condition of the garment/fiber The type and composition of the fabric. Mobility of victim The more movement, the more likely fibers will be transferred The length of time between actual physical contact. Likelihood of finding transferred fibers on the clothing of the suspect decreases after each day that passes.

Testing for Identification Microscopic observation Burning — observation of how a fiber burns, the odor, color of flame, color of smoke, and the appearance of the residue Thermal decomposition — gently heating to break down the fiber to the basic monomers Chemical tests — solubility and decomposition

Density — the mass of an object divided by the volume of the object Refractive index — measurement of the bending of light as it passes from air into a solid or liquid Fluorescence — absorption and reemission of light; used for comparing fibers as well as spotting fibers for collection

Dyes Components that make up dyes can be separated and matched to an unknown. There are more than 7,000 different dye formulations. Chromatography is used to separate dyes for comparative analysis. The way a fabric accepts a particular dye may also be used to identify and compare samples

Collection of Fiber Evidence Bag clothing items individually in paper bags. Make sure that different items are not placed on the same surface before being bagged. Make tape lifts of exposed skin areas and any inanimate objects. Removed fibers should be folded into a small sheet of paper and stored in a paper bag.

Fiber Evidence Fiber evidence in court cases can be used to connect the suspect to the victim or to the crime scene. In the case of Wayne Williams, fibers weighed heavily on the outcome of the case. Williams was convicted in 1982 based on carpet fibers that were found in his home, in his car, and on several murder victims.

Problems with Fiber Evidence Class Characteristic Mass production of goods/garments The less common the fiber the more useful it is to identify a suspect. Cotton: Very common – Basically meaningless in forensic investigations.

Basic Comparison of Fiber Samples Microscopic comparison of color and diameter Compare lengthwise striations Compare cross-section of fiber (shape) Fabric Comparisons (weave pattern, thread count). Color separation

Summary Questions Read p. 143-161 Can a fiber be individualized to a particular textile fabric? Why of how? Can a piece of fabric be individualized to a particular garment? Why or how? If an unknown fiber is suspended in a solution with a density of 1.30, what might the fiber be? If the same fiber in question 3 is found to have a refractive index of 1.53, what might it be? How is the Becke line used to determine Refractive Index? Explain how an optical brightener may change how light reacts with fibers. If a fiber disappears in castor oil, what might it be? How is chromatography used in identifying the make up of dyes? What is trace evidence? What is the common basis for analyzing trace evidence, that is, what are the goals? During a trial, what are the primary concerns in analyzing and using extremely small bits of trace evidence? How do forensic scientists use FTIR to analyze fibers? How does the FBI use a crook’s jeans to catch them? How did Fibers & their analysis play a major role in the Amanda Davis case?